Bobbie Johnson (Go figure ..., 23 February) highlights the ever-increasing role the mathematics of algorithms plays in our daily lives, including Google's page ranking. "Mathematicians rule!" concludes Johnson. So a reader inspired by your article may seek to contact an expert in algorithms in the mathematics department of their local university. In this, the article will have misled them, as expertise in this area is to be found predominantly in departments of computer science and informatics. Mathematics is important in every area of science. Just as physicists invented new mathematics to solve their problems, it is computer scientists who have invented much of the new mathematics of algorithms. The impact of this branch of computer science on our lives is indeed profound.Prof Malcolm Atkinson, Prof Alan Bundy, Prof Dave Robertson, Dr Kousha Etessami, Dr Perdita Stevens and 14 othersUniversity of Edinburgh

Bobbie Johnson describes algorithms as "jealously guarded mathematical recipes that increasingly dictate how we lead our lives". What he's actually describing is operational research - the discipline of applying appropriate, often advanced, analytical methods to help make better decisions. Executives in every kind of organisation - from two-person start-ups to FTSE 100 leaders - are using OR to structure their problems, unlock the value of their data, model complex problems and make better decisions with less risk and better outcomes. Some real-world examples of how OR techniques can help managers take better, bolder decisions can be found at scienceofbetter.co.ukGraham SharpOperational Research Society